Shirley Bell – God Can Do Anything! (OverBoard Records 2009)

Shirley Bell
God Can Do Anything!
OverBoard Records 2009
http://www.spbmusic.net/

You know the saying, “It takes years to become an overnight success?” Shirley Bell can testify.

Her debut CD, God Can Do Anything, comes after many years of dedicated music ministry at Rev. Dr. Clay Evans’ renowned Fellowship M.B. Church in Chicago. Musicians and vocalists of all styles sat in the Fellowship sanctuary back in the day enjoying its singing choir, courtesy of the music direction of LouDella Evans Reid. That’s the environment in which Shirley honed her skills as a gospel singer, and she showcases them on God Can Do Anything.

Recorded at Samaritan Bible Baptist Church, where two Fellowship alumni, Rev. Billy Jones and his wife Jeanette Robinson-Jones (Helen Robinson Youth Chorus) are Pastor and First Lady, God Can Do Anything is quintessentially Chicago. Gospel with a capital G, the sound on the CD is largely high-intensity and churchy, with Shirley roaring through sing-a-long gospel songs like Dorothy Norwood’s understudy. Bryant Jones, the son of Samaritan Bible Baptist’s proprietors, brings his inestimable talents to bear on keyboards and as music director. Bryant’s group Chosen provides the full-throated background vocals.

The highlight of the album is the current single, “Power of the Holy Ghost,” a supercharged hand-clapper in the style of Dr. Charles Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Warriors. When Shirley performed this song at the CD release party at Fellowship recently, the spirit in the room was so high the audience was transported momentarily from a Missionary Baptist church basement to the sanctuary of a COGIC church.

Other strong tracks on the CD are the title song and the largely a cappella “Old Church Medley,” a string of congregational songs punctuated by lively audience participation and shouts of encouragement.

Rev. Dr. Clay Evans makes a cameo appearance on “Save the Children,” offering a fervent prayer as a lonely saxophone plays jazz riffs in the background and Shirley sings head-shakingly about troubles facing youth today. It’s one of the CD’s rare quiescent moments.

“Jesus Loves Me” finds Shirley improvising on the familiar hymn, interplaying with the audience, and then moving into a more contemporary interpretation, with Chosen giving the finale a Hawkins Family vibe.

God Can Do Anything, a marvelous example that old-school gospel singing is alive and well in Chicago, is on Darrell Jay Jones’ OverBoard Records label out of Crockett, Texas.

Three and a Half of Four Stars